Prime: Orientation and Training?

This may be the link:

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...g-industry-regulations/26202-medications.html

 

trucker mike your training on the truck is done on a simulator now?

 

Ummm....no.

Driving test for those coming in with a CDL already is done on the simulator.

Driving test for those who are ready to go solo AFTER training is done on the simulator.

Smith System (defensive driving course) is done on the simulator.

Other than that, nothing has changed. All training and anything pertaining to obtaining your CDL is done on a truck.

 

Sazook, do you know if the Cali produce comes mainly from southern or central Calif? I live in central California and am thinking of going to Prime. Produce from the central valley would be a good way to get me near home, but no guarantee due to delivery times, etc. Is produce mainly for a team? Thank you.

 

Produce is usually for team. Except for Potatoes and Apples.

Im a solo driver and I have been dispatched to CA 3 times... 2 of those times not by request just where a load has taken me.

This last time I requested some hometime at my parents house in Antioch, which wasnt a problem.

Due to some mechanical problems as I was leaving my house it was revealed to me that my load out was specifically booked for me because I was solo, and they try and avoid sending solos to CA.... therefore Prime's pre-booked loads out of CA are primarily team.

That would explain the last few times I was out there and sat a day or two before getting a load.

I would guess that you wont get there much unless you request it.

 

As U2 said, produce or the most part goes to teams, especially out of Cali. As far as where the produce comes from, it depends on the season. Year round we have a rather large shipper out of the Inland Empire. Other than that, during the summer we haul a lot out of Monterrey County, and during late fall and winter we do a lot out of far southern Cali near the border with Mexico, and also a lot out of Yuma.

 

When in Yuma make sure to look up Nick Papagiorgio.

Tell him I said hey.

(to whomever edited my post this is a fictional character from Vegas Vacation. No need to edit the last name)

Now back to our regularly scheduled humor

 

One of the main things that pull me toward Prime is the training program. As with any job, I'm sure there are good and bad trainers/instructors. Speaking for myself, training is the most important issue. The training comes above the pay. I've worked for 20+ years making less than $25,000 per year. At most of those jobs I've had to train myself. I've worked in offices; what I do in that office will not affect the lives of others traveling the highways. If/when I finally get my license and hit the roads, I want to know that I have had quality training from someone who cares not only about his/her own wallet, but also about the safety of myself and others sharing the highways. $40,000 a year isn't going to help me a great deal if I can't do the job because I was improperly trained.

I would by all means go ask for a reassignment. If anything were to ever happen while on the road in your own truck, what do you think the reaction will be when you tell someone "my trainer never went over that"?

 

I have one I like, Ive done it 3 times... always the same and a very light load... cross dock drop and hook from Walmart DC in Laurens, SC to St. Joseph MO

U2, next time you get in to St Joseph, let me know. I'm about 12 miles from the WalMart on the north side. I'll buy ya a cup of coffee if I'm in the neighborhood.

 

Well, you'll get the best of both worlds at Prime. Training pay is $500 for the first 5 weeks, then $600. However, if you go over 5,000 miles (between you and your trainer) in a week, you get a mileage pay. So basically, you are guaranteed 500 or 600 bucks per week, but that's the minimum you'll make during training. As I've stated before, I saw 2 paychecks over $900 and a few over $700 while I was in training. You have to get a trainer that likes to run hard, and you have to want to run hard, but you can actually make some pretty decent cash while in training. Compare the guaranteed pay to some other companies, and you'll see how much higher the training pay at Prime is. Of course, the training period at Prime is about 2 or 3 times as long as other companies, but like you, I saw that as a good thing.

On my first solo run right now. Nervous as hell! LOL! Made it to the shipper without any problems, dispite being nervous. Now I just have to worry about getting to the reciever in Detroit without hitting anything.